With the fences up, physical work officially has begun on the City of Sequim’s new civic center and police station.
Lydig Construction, the contracted Bellevue outfit, put up fencing on Monday, April 7, around the site on Cedar Street closing off the sidewalk, a portion of Sequim Avenue narrowing its sidewalk and around two homes on Spruce Street.
David Garlington, the city’s project manager, said construction/demolition begins with licensed asbestos abatement in a house on Spruce Street the city plans to purchase, the former Serenity House Thrift Shop and apartments and former Sequim City Hall.
Once the asbestos is removed, which Garlington said should go quickly, crews will begin demolition on one of the Spruce Street homes, the city hall and Serenity House buildings.
“We don’t plan on it taking more than a couple of weeks,” Garlington said.
He said the city hopes to finish the purchase of the second home on Spruce Street before the demolition crews leave. The two homes will be leveled for Clallam Transit’s park and ride.
Clallam Transit already has shifted its services at the Clallam Transit Center to the northwest corner of its building on Second Avenue.
Garlington said city officials still plan to keep traffic inconveniences minimal. For a few days, Cedar Street between Sequim Avenue and Second Avenue will become one lane for utility work sometime between May and June. At night the lane will reopen with metal plates over the holes.
It is unknown, Garlington said, if there will be one lane traffic or traffic cones in place to displace traffic aside on Sequim Avenue when crews demolish the former Serenity House buildings.
Sewer speed up
A portion of the project received some good news for nearby residents, Garlington said.
Originally the city was going to replace the entire sewer system from Second Avenue to Seal Street to increase the sewage capacity but the city will replace two manholes instead.
“We’re still going to close off the alleyway but it’s not going to be as extensive,” Garlington said. “Apartment parking isn’t going to be impacted and it speeds (the project) up by several weeks.”
Once the sewer work is complete, crews with Clallam PUD will work to ground utilities where drivers might see the one lane traffic on Cedar Street.
When construction begins on the civic center/police station the alleyway will be closed to vehicles through its completion in early 2015. Construction and demolition is scheduled for weekdays from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Garlington will present an update on the project tentatively at 6 p.m. Monday, April 14, at the Clallam Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.
For updates on the project, visit www.sequimwa.gov.
